Shaun White wins Burton U.S. Open halfpipe

BO MHPF White Wins DT 3-2-13
Dominique Taylor/dtaylor@vaildaily.com
Shaun White flies above some fans as he boasts out of the halfpipe during his first of three runs in the Burton US Open men's halfpipe finals Saturday at Golden Peak in Vail.

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VAIL, Colorado - Shaun White has defended his title at the U.S. Open snowboarding championships, easily winning the event Saturday with a flawless performance through a sun-splashed halfpipe.White went big in his opening run, holding little back, and only got better on his second pass when he turned in the high score of 95.58 points. Japanese teenager Ayumu Hirano finished second and Louie Vito of Sandy, Utah, took third.As a kid, White tested out the pipe at the U.S. Open before the professional boarders went to work. Even then, he dazzled the fans.That hasn't changed. So satisfied with his winning performance, White tossed his goggles into the crowd. He took a leisurely spin on his final run.The U.S. Open relocated to Vail this season after 30 years in Vermont.